2012 Opel Astra GTC – Click above for high-res image gallery
The last time an Opel Astra hit our shores, it dropped the Lightning Bolt and added a Saturn badge. harmless little rebadging exercise didn’t fare so well last time, but the automaker is looking to have a bit more luck re-purposing the newest Astra as the upcoming . According to sources from Car and Driver, GM may not stop there.
C/D reports that The General is looking to bring the three-door Stateside. The sultry-looking hatch would give the Tri-Shield brand a sporty alternative to the Verano sedan, and a vehicle that could appeal to a younger audience. Since the Astra GTC shares the same platform as the Verano, we’re guessing powertrains will be the same, with a choice of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder pushing 177 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.0-liter variant with 220 ponies. An even hotter OPC version of the GTC is rumored to be on the way to Europe as well, but we don’t even dare to dream such a glorious dream. Gear shifts should come from a choice of six-speed auto and manual transmissions.
Opel is also rumored to be working on a drop-top variant of the Astra GTC, with the same great-looking rear end but without the Astra name on the boot. The convertible, which will reportedly arrive in Europe toward the end of 2012, will feature a cloth convertible top and the same powertrains as the GTC. The convertible could also make its way to the U.S. with a badge, but details appear to be a lot more sketchy on this model. If Buick does receive a convertible, it will be the brand”s first droptop since the ill-fated Reatta.
Audi trimaran concept by Stefanie Behringer – Click above for image gallery
While hybrid propulsion is becoming more and more common in cars – concept cars especially – the application on the water has remained somewhat more limited. Some larger motorboats might incorporate sideways electric thrusters to help with docking, but that’s by and large the extent of it.
As you might have guessed, however, this is no ordinary motorboat. For starters,- it doesn’t actually exist – it’s a design exercise. One created by German grad student Stefanie Behringer with input from ’s design department. It’s designed around a trimaran form – that is, a boat with three hulls that optimizes stability without the drag in aquadynamics that goes with a wider hull. Which picks up where the (that’s two hulls to you landlubbers) and the nautical theme of the left off and takes the idea even further.
Attached to the center hull are two narrow outriggers that each house an electric-powered jet ski. The personal watercraft can (at least, in theory) be deployed as toys or tenders, but when docked inside the the outriggers supplement the main engines for trolling (that is, maneuvering around the marina) at up to 8 knots (9.2 mph) or accelerating. Oh, and the main engines? A pair of (presumably marinized) V12 TDI turbo-diesels with 500 horsepower apiece. Combined with the pair of 100-hp electric jet drives, that makes for 1,200-hp of thrust, which, with the boat’s slender shape, is estimated to be good for 40 knots (46 mph).
2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The hardcore isn’t the only model that gets a new heart for the 2012 model year. According to our sources within , both the E350 and E550 models will receive new powerplants currently found elsewhere in the automaker’s lineup.
The base E350 will now be powered by the automaker’s new 3.5-liter V6 with direct-injection, an engine that we recently tested in the sedan and roadster. Rated at 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, the new engine provides power increases of 14 hp and 15 lb-ft over the current V6, while the use of direct-injection and a seven-speed automatic transmission will no doubt return improved fuel economy.
Moving along, the eight-cylinder E550 will ditch its naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 in favor of a twin-turbocharged 4.6-liter unit with direct-injection, currently found in the coupe. In the E-Class, this engine will be good for 402 hp and 443 lb-ft – improvements of 20 and 52, respectively.
Look for the refreshed E-Class range to debut this Fall.
Volkswagen Polo R WRC – Click above for high-res image gallery
Everyone wants to go rallying these days. when it announced it was heading back into the WRC fray, and now wants to join that party. No longer content to watch its blast across the vicious routes of the Dakar Rally, VW is bringing the Polo R WRC hot hatch to the World Rally Championship.
The all-wheel-drive Polo R WRC will be powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, which Volkswagen expects will produce around 300 horsepower. Volkswagen Motorsport has high hopes for its WRC Polo, and hopefully the team can draw on the success that VW experienced with rallying in the 1980s. In 1986, a was the winning car in the newly formed Group A. Look for the Volkwagen Polo R WRC to try and capture some of that former glory starting with the 2013 WRC season. for VW’s official press release, as well as a teaser video. Hat tip to Chris!
2012 Nissan Versa – Click above for high-res image gallery
When we within the subcompact segment, we found that the more functional three- and five-door models tend to attract the majority of buyers. – a company whose enjoys the largest share (20 percent) of this segment – stated that about two-thirds of all Versas sold are hatchbacks.
So why, then, when the debuted at the last month, was there no five-door variant in sight? After all, the Versa’s global sister, the (pictured right), at the recently, and with the five-door model commanding the majority of sales, Nissan wouldn’t be smart to kill off its more popular offering.
We spoke to David Reuter, Nissan’s vice president of corporate communications, who assured us that a new version of the Versa hatchback is coming, just not quite yet.
The majority of Versa sold are the five-door. Overall, we sold 99,705 Versa in 2010, compared to our next closest competitor (Honda Fit) who sold just under 55,000 units. So, from a business standpoint, we decided to improve the sedan first.
As of this writing, it is unclear exactly when we’ll see the next-generation Versa hatch. In the meantime, Reuter says that the current car will soldier on for the 2012 model year with “only normal model year to model year changes.”
The is gone. The Defender is to be . The has let itself go over the years into a bloated luxo-barge. One of the last remaining icons of hardcore off-road SUVs is the , and it is soon to be replaced as well. But before it does, has announced a pair of special editions.
The BA3 Final Edition marks the end of production for the short-wheelbase three-door G-Wagen. The farewell special is distinguished by body-colored fender flares, an AMG grille, 18-inch alloys and extra chrome inside and out, with black leather interior offset by walnut burr veneers and ambient lighting.
While the long-wheelbase five-door model will continue on for a while longer, it hasn’t been left out of the special treatment. The Edition Select gets contrasting black trim with blacked-out 18-inch alloys, AMG-spec sports exhaust and a two-tone leather cabin with piano lacquer trim.
The Edition Select comes exclusively in G500 spec with a 5.5-liter V8, while the BA3 Final Edition can also be had as a G350 with BlueTec diesel six. Both models pack all the off-road equipment you can shake a stick at, but appear to be available exclusively overseas for the time being. So we’ll just have to bide our time until the Gelandewagen’s eventual replacement rolls around, and content ourselves with the details in the press release and the high-res photos in the gallery below.
-Benz gears up for the demise of the G-Class with BA3 Final Edition and Edition Select
Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S – Click above for high-res image gallery
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has been working hard to improve the automaker’s labor situation in Italy, and it appears the effort is beginning to pay off. Automotive News reports that Fiat has come to an agreement with the union at the former Bertone plant, with increased work shifts and more flexible overtime as part of the agreement. The union initially turned down an offer from Fiat, which prompted the Italian automaker to to rebuild the plant.
The agreement, which was agreed to by 88 percent of the workforce, makes way for Fiat to invest $739 million to overhaul the facility. Fiat plans to make the next generation at the facility, which has a reported launch date of mid-2013. The plant is also scheduled to build a midsize Maserati that will be tasked to take on the likes of the and the . The sedan is scheduled to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2012.
The “stance movement” refers to an automotive style that looks at vehicles and thinks they need to be sitting lower… a lot lower. If there was a way to push the frame rails through the ground, someone in stance nation would do it. The style of these “stanced” cars and trucks is hit or miss, some look low and lovely while others just look broken. We thought this style was only popular amongst the standard daily-driven machines populating our roadways, but we were wrong. We’ve just learned that in a very big (yet still low) way thanks to one individual’s slammed 1977 International Loadstar.
This is more than just a cut-down big-rig, content to crush the pavement beneath it. This truck has received major attention, and the fabrication work is quite impressive. All the seams on the body have been welded to give the cab a clean look. The wheels have been milled down to wear Falken rubber. Running under the cab and out the back, the frame has been sealed so air can pass through it, allowing it to serve as a 25-gallon tank used to operate the air-bag suspension system. No small task, considering the truck weighs over 10,000-pounds.
Under the hood, this International is powered by a 7.3-liter diesel engine pulled from a 1991 E-350. It’s been upgraded with the turbocharger from a 2002 Powerstroke, and the intercooler courtesy of a vehicle. Put it all together and it’s one impressive piece of machinery. We’d love to see it sitting a few inches higher than zero, but we’ll gladly give a thumbs up if we ever get to see it rumbling by.
Roland Sands photo shoot – Click above to watch video
By almost all accounts, we’ve got a pretty sweet gig here. We drive new cars, write up a few words, snap a few pictures and share the whole shindig with you in what is truly one of the finest slices of fried employment around. But that doesn’t mean we don’t get jealous of other occupations or the gents that work them. Take Roland Sands, for example. The man designs and builds some of the most beautiful custom bikes, helmets and cars around, and recently, he partnered up with Jamie Robinson for a full photo shoot.
How’d it go? Let’s just say that while we’ve had some , none of them have ever compared to the day Sands had while strutting some of his hardware. to check out the video for yourself, though do be warned; some of the scenes may not be safe for cubical-viewing.
2011 Mini Countryman – Click above for high-res image gallery
When launched its all-new crossover, we were told that it would only be available with the four-seat configuration here in the United States – two buckets up front, two buckets in back. Now, Mini has confirmed that the rear bench seat option – something that’s currently available in other markets – will be available on U.S.-spec Countrymen starting this Fall.
This option is ideal for customers who need the occasional use of a bench seat, whether it be for hauling cargo or having the space for one extra person. (We hate to think of how cramped a Countryman would be with three adults in back.) Expect the bench seat option to show up on order forms starting in September.
Fresh off helping the Oklahoma State Legislature to write , Classic Recreations has announced the availability of the “Venom” version of its Shelby GT500CR. From the outside, the Venom appears to be identical to the standard GT500CR model, but under the hood lurks a ProCharger F1-R centrifugal supercharger to boost output of the 427-cubic-inch V8 to 780 horsepower.
There are some subtle changes to the rest of the car, as well. Inside is a set of racing-style bucket seats and a 200-mph speedometer, while the suspension has been upgraded and wider Nitto NT555 series tires added to help handle the extra horsepower.
Classic Recreations has released a bevy of photos of the Shelby GT500CR Venom, which you can see in the gallery below, or to see a video of the car in action as well as a list of full features and specifications.
2011 GMC Sierra – Click above for high-res image gallery
As the price of fuel rises, those shopping for automobiles began to take an even deeper look at their options before plunking down the greenbacks. It’s an economics carnival ride that never seems to stop running, and consumers can never stop riding. has been paying extra attention to the amount of trucks it’s selling, and it knows that a 111-day stockpile of full-size pickups is less than ideal.
One month is hardly a trend, however, and GM’s North American President Mark Reuss will be eyeballing the company’s pickup truck inventory as the weeks progress. Should the amount of trucks sitting on lot stay high, Reuss will have to scale back production of his full-size work horses.
As trucks sit and fuel prices rise, economy cars start to look more attractive to shoppers. GM saw a record number of sedans finding new homes in April. Even though its compacts are surging, trucks haven’t fallen completely flat. Year-to-date demand for pickups, despite falling last month, is still up compared to 2010.
Sebring Replacement Gets A Seat At The Big Kids Table – Barely
2011Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery
You don’t have to take a trip to Egypt to know what the pyramid of Gisa looks like. It’s an amazing feat of engineering, the construction of which continues to confound scientists to this day. But while Gisa is a true world wonder, Egypt is also home to many structures that were never completed. Half-built pyramids, obelisks that were intricately cut out of solid bedrock only to be left un-hoisted and 1,000-ton rocks that were dragged by hand for miles and left sitting unused. Why would anyone go through all that effort without finishing what they started?
We’ve long asked the same question about the . Engineers took the time to come up with all the components needed to craft a new sedan for Chrysler, yet the steering, chassis and engines were woefully unfinished works. When looking at the Sebring, it’s like designers threw darts at a wall to find the right sketch, and the same lack of completeness could be felt on the inside, where rubbery materials materials were assembled with the precision of a sofa cushion fort.
Luckily for Chrysler, the Sebring and those unfinished Egyptian objects have one more thing in common: They’re both consigned to history. Chrysler’s designers and engineers have worked together to right the wrongs of the Sebring, and those efforts have led to the newly named 2011 Chrysler 200. We spent a week with a nicely equipped Limited model to see if Chrysler’s mulligan can go toe-to-toe with its peers in a very competitive mid-size sedan segment.
McLaren MP4-12C GT3 – Click above for high-res image gallery
There’s a grand tradition of turning a supercar into a race car, then turning it back into a road car again. Call it “life imitating art imitating life,” or call it what you want, but we call it awesome. , for example, did just that with the 360 Modena, which became the 360 Challenge racer and then the 360 Challenge Stradale road car. followed a similar formula with the , turned and back into the . McLaren’s done it too, turning the original F1 into the F1 GTR racer and then back into the hyper-exclusive F1 LM road car. And now it could be ready to do so again with the latest .
The racing team-turned-automaker just rolled out the new , and has to produce a new model or variant annually for the next five years. A big brother to the MP4 and successor to the F1 is reportedly set for introduction by 2014, bearing more radical styling than the rather derivative 12C (and hopefully a more dynamic name, too). But before that, we could be looking at a road-ready GT3 model.
The standard approach of less weight, more power would likely be applied to the hardcore MP4 – the same sort of formula used on the likes of the , Ferrari 430 Scuderia and – to make for an even more extreme supercar. But while variations on the theme are in the pipeline, McLaren is reportedly eager to stay on the reasonable side of ’s approach of endless variants. to check out McLaren’s officialvideo covering the launch of the MP4-12C GT3.
A team of Volkswagen Amarok trucks bring down a massive chimney – Click above for high-res image gallery
Why use expensive, heavy-machinery when a small fleet of pickup trucks is all you need? One demolition crew in the United Kingdom was prepping to bring down a 154-ton chimney when stepped in and offered up four Amarok trucks to haul down the massive 220-foot tall smoker.
As with any such pull-down-style demolition, engineers were called in to reduce the structure’s integrity before letting the trucks have a crack at it. Each Amarok had a 656-foot rope running from its bumper to the top of the chimney. The signal was given and all four trucks let their 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engines go to work. The result? A fallen chimney and a marketing goldmine. See the pics below and the press release for the proof of both.
If you’re lucky enough to live in the UK where you can purchase an Amarok, the trucks will be arriving on dealer lots on May 9th. Have your £21,343 (including VAT) ready, or borrow $35,263 from a (very good) friend in the United States.
2011Chevrolet Cruze Eco – Click above for high-res image gallery
The may be relatively new to the market, but that doesn’t stop it from the recall bug. The Detroit News is reporting that is recalling 154,112(!) Cruze models to ensure proper installation of the intermediate steering shaft covers. Automatic transmission-equipped models will also be checked for proper installation of the transmission shift linkage.
GM says it hasn’t yet received any complaints about the issue and no accidents have been reported. The automaker tells The Detroit News that the vast majority of recalled vehicles will not need to be repaired – the automaker simply wants to inspect the vehicles “to give customers additional peace of mind about the quality of the Cruze.”
Beyond the Cruze recall, GM has also issued a pair of smaller actions. The automaker is recalling 8,723 examples of the and vans for potential brake leaks. Also being recalled are 6,303 and models that are suspected to have a windshield wiper nut that wasn’t tightened to specification during the build process. None of the vehicles in this batch of recalls are reportedly responsible for any accidents as a result of the defects.
2013 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ – Click above for high-res image gallery
The may be best attempt yet at creating a truly global midsize sedan. GM says the Malibu will be sold in 100 countries spanning six continents, and one of those markets will be in South Korea, a country where the Malibu has never been offered before.
The General claims that interest in the ‘Bu has grown in Korea, with 30,000 Internet club fan members in a market where the sedan has never before been offered. The excitement comes after GM unveiled the Malibu at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show, where the fresh four-door was named “Most Eye-Catching Car.”
Korean car buyers tend to be a very nationalistic bunch, but that won’t be a problem for the Malibu, since GM will build the sedan in Bupyeong, Korea this fall. In fact, the Bupyeong plant will be the first facility to build the new sedan. The move to sell the Malibu in Korea is part of GM’s plan to replace the Daewoo make with the brand. to read over the GM press release.
Fiat 500C for MillionTreesNYC – Click above for high-res image
Narrowing down the list of things for which New York City is known can be a daunting task, but its parks are arguably up there. Now the city is planning to plant a million new trees across its five boroughs over the course of the next decade, and has signed on to help.
As part of the initiative, Fiat North America has donated eight 500C mock-ups with 12-foot pear trees planted in them to be installed along Canal Street and Avenue of the Americas. Eventually, the cars will be towed removed, after which the trees will be permanently planted, sans the Italian wheels. Feel free to read through the very short press release .
has pulled the wraps off its latest supercar, the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster. Gone are the gullwing doors and fixed roof; in their place are traditional entry-ports and a folding cloth softtop. The car is still undergoing testing, but these shots reveal far more of the car than we’ve previously seen in . A more polished version will be revealed to the world at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this September.
Before the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster hits the show circuit, it needs to spend some more time with Mercedes’ engineers. The MB team has put a lot of work into this drop-top SLS, and ditching the fixed roof has required more than simply taking a sawzall to the bodywork.
Though the aluminum spaceframe was originally developed with both a coupe and convertible in mind, Benz engineers added beefier side-skirts to the roadster. This allows for improvements in both crash performance and overall rigidity. Further aiding in the quest for increased strength, a cross-member that supports the dashboard was given additional bracing at both the window frame and transmission tunnel. Despite this increased rigidity, the bodyshell of the SLS AMG Roadster weighs just five pounds more than the bodyshell of the .
Like its hardtop sibling, the roadster is capable of hitting an electronically limited top speed of 197 miles per hour. The convertible top is constructed from three layers of fabric, magnesium, steel and aluminum. It’s lightweight, strong and can be opened or closed at speeds up to 31 miles per hour.
You can see the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster being put through the testing paces by clicking through the gallery below. Be sure to to read more about the new SLS convertible in the full press release.
Xplore Jeep Wrangler takes on Moab – Click above for high-res image gallery
We’ve seen the , and we got a sneak peak of what the company has . Well, that is finished, and Xplore decided the best place to unveil it would be in Moab. Smart decision, seeing that Jeep lovers from all over the country would be descending to that area for Jeep’s annual Easter Safari.
Xplore has taken the standard Wrangler and pumped it up a few notches. Offering up to four stages of customization, this Jeep Wrangler has checked nearly all of Xplore’s option boxes. Upgrades can be found inside and out, and include custom wheels, a Mopar exhaust and intake setup, Bilstein shocks, Xplore badges and seat embroidery, OME suspension and a host of ARB parts.
As with the FJ Cruiser, the purchase of an Xplore-outfitted vehicle comes with a one-year National Parks and Monuments pass and the Xplore newsletter. A portion of the proceeds received from parts or complete vehicles is donated to the National Parks Foundation. Xplore wants you to explore, and they’re putting together vehicles that will get you doing just that. Check out the press release .
